Little Wildcat!

Phil's high school alma mater never looked so good! ;)

Happy Wednesday!

Just because... he's cute. Full of smiles, and always on the move! :)

Nice hair, dude 

Can't get enough of those eyes!

6 Months!

James @ 6 Months!

James's 6 Month Stats:

Weight:  16 lb. 10 oz. ~ 31%

Length:  26.5 inches long ~ 41%

Head: 44 1/2 cm  ~ 81%

 

 6 months, 2 teeth!!

Jamesy LOVES:

Stroller walks, reading stories, trying to eat board books, activity jumper, rolling, rocking on hands and knees, army crawling, babbling (Mama, ma-ma-ma!), screeching, peek-a-boo, bubbles, sleeping in crib, lullabies, singing songs, sitting up, highchair, taking baths, belly laughs, toes, Sofie giraffe teething toy, frozen teething toys, trying to feed himself a bottle, girlfriend (nanny) Cara, the lake, exploring/trying to figure out all toys (ball, laptop, TOLO, name bench, anything that has bright colors, plays music or makes noise, etc),

Jamesy DOESN'T LOVE:

Bubble guns, teething, rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, avocado

Rice Cereal!

June 22, 2013

A few weeks ago we started James on his first "solid" food, rice cereal.

Although we orginally thought about starting him on solids at the beginning of 5 months, between Phil traveling for work a lot throughout the month of May, golfing on the weekends, and me starting back to work, James ended up eating his first bite of rice cereal on his last day of being 5 months old! And, he loved it! Well, he loved the idea of sitting in the high chair and seeing the bowl and the spoon. His reaction to his very first bite was very positive. We heard lots of "Mmmm, mmmm" sounds, and saw tiny kicking legs, which was hilarious and exciting. However, once he actually stopped and tasted the bland rice? Not so much! Check out his facial expressions (which are still continuing today), below.

Stay tuned for first veggies and fruits to come over the next few weeks!

So big! Yet, so small, all at the same time!

Mmmmm... rice cereal!

   

Even a few weeks later... 

It always starts out so positive! 

And then...

First Road Trips

James has been quite the road tripper lately (well, for the month of June). Which has given us (or maybe just me?) anxiety attacks and great practice, all at the same time.

However, I am proud to say, that we are getting the packing up the car and entertaining-baby-in-backseat thing down. We never really realized how many baby items you truly NEED to bring with you. Just for a night. Or even, just for a day trip! Not really sure how we are ever going to make it on an airplane with the amount of items we would need to bring or check. But, we'll find out in September! Florida, here we come!? (Tips for flying with an infant are welcome!)

James's first road trips were:

1. Cincinnati, OH: Mom's Work Trip 

• Ride time: Normal time 4 hrs. With baby 5.5 hrs.
• A week into being back to work and toss in a first family road trip! Due to a last minute client trip, we went down to Cincinnati for a night. Daddy Daycare (aka Phil) watched James and had quite the eye-opening experience. Let's just say, he underestimated the amount of "work" involved to keep up with a 5 month-old during the day. He now knows that you never leave a hotel room to go to a friends house for dinner for the night (while Mom is at a client dinner) without a bottle. And, that spending 5 hours with a baby might make you forget where those friends live, and you end up sitting on a neighbor's porch (a block away) waiting for 45 minutes for said friends to come home from work. Turns out, those friends were home (at their house) the whole time! And, a great quote from the first day was, "I now know what you mean when you say you can't remember what you did ALL day. What did I do? Changed diapers, feed him, changed him, made sure he didn't roll off the bed..." Oh Dad. Being a Mom is hard work, right?
• First night in a hotel room with a baby = success. We actually got the pack 'n play to open (3rd times the charm) and James slept in it the whole night (11 pm - 6 am).

Phil & James at the Columbus rest stop.
Our half-way break for feeding in the car and a quick walk!

2. Pittsburgh, PA: Erin's Baby Shower!

• Ride time: 2.5 hrs (Day trip)  
• Great to see Mama-to-be, Erin and her family! A lot in life has changed since our college days at Miami, but great friends still remain. Looking forward to finding out if Baby Kaple is a Mr. or Miss in mid-August!

 

Erin & Linds

 

 

James, 6 months old

 

 

That face!

My view from the back seat

 

Such intensity in his face. And, true multitasking skills.

3. Louisville, OH: Ann's Bridal Shower!

• Ride time: 1.5 hrs (day trip)   
• Looking forward to Ann and Matt tying the knot on 10.12.13!
  
  
  Linds & I with the Bride-to-be!
  
  
   
  James and his ladies at a fun cookout back at the farm
  
  
  
  James and the future Mrs. Schumacher!! 
  
  
  
  
  

  James had fun with Phil and the rest of the Dads while the ladies were at the shower. 

  Before (L) and After (R) Pic - I think Daddy Daycare did a pretty good job! ;) 
  
  

My New "Roll"

June 3, 2013

After an extensive maternity leave, I am now back to work!

Well, technically, I started back in June. Therefore, if you were wondering what happened to all the Jamesy updates lately, apparently back to work = less time to write posts! Sorry. I am working on getting better at my time management. Still adapting and learning how to fit everything in that needs to get done (or, that I'd like to get done) in a day! But hey, it's summer. When I'm not working, we are loving being outside and enjoying the days!

In June, I started a new role, working for a previous Cincinnati client. That means getting to work with familiar faces (or voices) again, and trying to relearn the business I was familiar with when I worked on the project a few years ago. However, the difference is that I am now working from home, part-time, in the mornings. Four hours a day is manageable, right?! Then, the rest of the time I am full-time Mom.

Rollin' with it

 

My sidekick shopper

In May, I was on a mission to find a trustworthy, responsible and energetic sitter for James to come to the house while I work from home. Well, we found her  (for the summer at least) and she is wonderful! James now has a new girlfriend (or nanny) and her name is Cara. He loves her. However, she is still in college, which means come August, I will be on the hunt to find someone new! She has definitely made this transition back to work easier, knowing James is in great hands and having fun. I am hoping I can find someone just as great, again. Cross your fingers...

Things I am now learning to co-exist with that I did not have in my "work-life" before:

1. Less sleep. Teething = Many nights I see 1, 3, 5 and 6 am?! = Coffee please!
2. Pumping for bottles the night before (instead of 30 minutes before the nanny arrives!). AND, remembering to take a 10 minute "pumping break" when James usually eats, to keep up my supply, and to not pay for it later if I forget (ouch!).
3. Writing out instructions for the nanny every morning
4. Trying to pick up the house and clean more often to *appear* like I have it together
5. Trying to turn OFF my Mama brain and turn ON my consulting brain (I did know what I was doing, once. And, was pretty good at it. Oh yea, the not sleeping part doesn't help, but it's only temporary... right?)

However, I am not the only one with a new "roll." Check out Mr. King of Rolling himself these days:

Rolls and rolls, like a little log, right off the blanket now!

Start him at one end and he'll keep rolling until he hits the wood, OR someone stops him!

So lucky to be able to stay home and spend more time with my little man!